VAIL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Ski Team members must be a Level 6 skier to enter the Vail Youth Development Team. A Level 6 skier is a parallel skier who is able to ski intermediate terrain comfortably, in a wide track parallel. Intermediate terrain is considered to be all BLUE trails on Vail Mountain.
Snowboard Team members must be a minimum of a Level 4 boarder. A Level 4 snowboarder is able to change direction easily, with little to no slipping on beginner (green) terrain.
Vail Youth Development Team is a program offered for individuals that are ages 8, 3rd grade, through 16. VDT offers several different team options at this level. We offer ski and riding specific programs, with the primary goal of training to improve all around skiing/riding skills of team members. Team members ski/ride with their assigned coach for a total of 18 days. During a normal team training day the team may be exposed to some gate training, freestyle training, powder skiing/riding, crud skiing/riding, bump skiing/riding, and other conditions on Vail Mountain. Every training day includes skiing/riding progressions to increase skiing/riding skills. The average coach to skier ratio is 9 team members with the same coach for the entire training year. Youth Development Team will meet for 18 regularly scheduled training days during the 2012-2013 ski season.
Returning team members will be assigned to teams based on year end coach recommendations and requests of parents and team members. Every effort is made to keep returning team members and coaches together as long as this does not impede the development of skiing/riding skills of the individual or the team. New team members are assigned to teams based on their reported skiing/riding ability as well as taking into account any special requests to ski with friends who have already been pre-assigned to a team. We will create team dynamics to insure the success of the program for the individual team member.
THE FOLLOWING ARE OFFERED AS OPTIONS FOR YOUTH TEAM MEMBERS:
All Mountain Skiing: All Mountain Skiing is what Vail Development Team is all about – developing the ability to ski in all conditions on Vail Mountain. Team members selecting this primary area of interest for the 2010-2011 season will become more proficient skiers and will use Vail Mountain as their “playground”. All Mountain skiers will spend part of the training day perfecting different skiing skills to help them improve their overall skiing. They will be challenged in their skiing by appropriate terrain choices and by the challenge to improve their skills. It is expected that most team members will choose this area of interest.
Alpine Racing: Team members who select this team have the goal of developing and improving alpine racing skills. As with all of Vail Youth Development Team the primary emphasis will be on improving all around skiing skills. Team members will be exposed to some GS and Slalom skills, tactics and techniques at different times during the season. Skiing progressions will be used to refine skills and develop tactical awareness. It is important to note that all of the mountain is used to increase skills that transfer to racing (such as half-pipes to insure a balanced stance). Coaches assigned to this team will have had experience with racing and/or race coaching. The alpine skier must be a Level 7 to enter this program and have a desire to specialize in alpine racing.
Freestyle Development Team: This team has a goal of developing and improving freestyle/mogul skiing skills. The team spends part of each training day, skiing in the bumps, improving bump skiing skills. An important part of freestyle skiing is “air” skills. The coaches allow time during each training day to master the skills that allow comfortable “safe” air time. Team members will be able to experience putting together a good bump run with air as part of that run. The team also has the opportunity to use the half pipes and parks and learn the skiing skills and safety procedures specific for this area of the mountain. The freestyle team will incorporate specific ski drills into their daily training routine to improve all around good skiing. Coaches assigned to this team will have had experience with freestyle competitions and/or freestyle coaching. The skier must be a Level 7 to enter the freestyle program and have a desire to specialize in freestyle/mogul/park skiing.
All Mountain Snowboard Development Team: The goal of the snowboard team is to improve all around riding skills. The Snowboard team has been growing and continues to grow as returning team members brings new friends to join them as well as other interested individuals. The All Mountain Snowboard team will use Vail Mountain as their “playground” and learning environment. The snowboard team member will also experience some time in the pipe and park sections of Vail Mountain with specific skill development for this area of the mountain. The team members will also have the ability to sign up for and enter various snowboarding competitions on Vail Mountain. We will happily put together a team for a Pipe and Park focus if we have at least 6 team members, level 5 and above, that request it. Team members will be exposed to appropriate terrain and drills to develop their snowboarding to the highest possible level.
